Editorial, Charlotte Observer

Les Merritt appears to be having a hard time understanding that voters in 2004 elected him to be N.C. State Auditor -- not State Auditor and Private Financial Adviser, and not State Auditor and Four Oaks Bank Board Member.

Mr. Merritt, a Republican, did step out of his investment adviser business after a flap over his divided loyalties, but when political watchdog Joe Sinsheimer questioned his decision to be a director of Four Oaks Bank in Zebulon, Auditor Merritt said he would accept no money from the bank and intended to remain on the board.

That's an unwise decision. Performing work -- even unpaid work -- for a commercial enterprise while supposedly serving the public full time presents a conflict of interests. The public has a right to expect that Auditor Merritt will work for it and not share his talents with a for-profit commercial enterprise. And Auditor Merritt's office has responsibility for auditing state agencies as well -- including the State Banking Commission, which oversees state banks.

Evidently Auditor Merritt has forgotten the lesson of the 1992 campaign for secretary of state, when NASCAR star Richard Petty was seeking the office but said he planned to keep doing his endorsement work. Oops. Bad call. The voters wanted no part of it and elected someone else. Auditor Merritt might take note.

Read the editorial at the Charlotte Observer website